Modular automated transaction machine

Abstract

An automated transaction machine can include a user-interface device, a computing device, a battery, a head portion, a first socket-half, a first electrical rail, and a relay. The a user-interface device can be configured to receive an input from a user and transmit the input. The computing device can receive the input. The battery can selectively direct electric power to the user-interface device and the computing device, which can all be housed in the head portion. The first socket-half can be exposed on an outside surface of the head portion and direct power to the user-interface device, the computing device, and the battery. The relay can be arranged to connect the battery and the first electrical rail in a first configuration and be switched between the first configuration and the second configuration by an output signal of the first socket-half.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automated transaction machine (ATM) comprising:
 at least one user-interface device configured to receive an input from a user, wherein the input corresponds at least in part to an account maintained by a financial institution, and wherein said at least one user-interface device is configured to transmit the input, wherein said at least one user-interface device is further defined as one of a key pad, a display, a scanner, a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, and a card reader; 
 at least one computing device in data communication with said at least one user-interface device to receive the input; 
 a battery selectively connectable to said at least one user-interface device and to said at least one computing device to direct electric power when connected to said at least one user-interface device and to said at least one computing device; 
 a head portion wherein said at least one user-interface device and said at least one computing device and said battery are housed in said head portion; 
 a first socket-half fixedly mounted in said head portion, exposed on an outside surface of said head portion, and electrically connected to said at least one user-interface device and to said at least one computing device and to said battery to direct electric power, when connected to said at least one user-interface device and to said at least one computing device and to said battery; 
 a first electrical rail housed in said head portion, wherein said at least one user-interface device receives power off of said first electrical rail; 
 a relay communicating with said first socket-half and also disposed between said battery and said first electrical rail, wherein said relay is arranged such that said relay connects said battery and said first electrical rail in a first configuration and in a second configuration selectively switches said battery off of said first electrical rail, and wherein said relay is switched between said first configuration and said second configuration by an output signal of said first socket-half; 
 a base portion selectively engageable with said head portion and defining an output slot, wherein said head portion rests on said base portion when said base portion and said head portion are engaged together; 
 a safe housed in said base portion; 
 an advanced function dispenser (AFD) housed in said base portion and configured to extract banknotes from said safe and direct the banknotes through said output slot 
 a second socket-half fixedly mounted in said base portion, wherein said first socket-half and said second socket-half directly mate as said base portion and said head portion are brought into engagement with one another; and 
 a power management module housed in said base portion and configured to receive grid electrical power from the grid, direct grid electrical power through said base portion, convert grid electrical power from AC to DC, and direct DC power to said head portion through said first socket-half and second socket-half. 
 
     
     
       2. The ATM of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a battery charger circuit disposed between said relay and said first socket-half, wherein said battery charger circuit is connected to said battery when said relay is in said second configuration. 
 
     
     
       3. The ATM of  claim 2  wherein said first socket-half is directly connected to said first electrical rail. 
     
     
       4. The ATM of  claim 3  wherein said first socket-half is directly connected to said battery charger circuit as well as said relay. 
     
     
       5. The ATM of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a second electrical rail housed in said head portion; and 
 a first circuit assembly housed in said head portion and disposed between said first electrical rail and said second electrical rail, said first circuit assembly converting a first level of voltage on said first electrical rail to a second level of voltage different from the first level of voltage and communicating the second level of voltage to said second electrical rail. 
 
     
     
       6. The ATM of  claim 5  wherein the first level of voltage is less than the second level of voltage. 
     
     
       7. The ATM of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a third electrical rail housed in said head portion; and 
 a second circuit assembly housed in said head portion and disposed between said first electrical rail and said third electrical rail, said second circuit assembly converting the first level of voltage on said first electrical rail to a third level of voltage different from the first level of voltage and communicating the third level of voltage to said third electrical rail. 
 
     
     
       8. The ATM of  claim 7  wherein the first level of voltage is greater than the third level of voltage. 
     
     
       9. The ATM of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a capacitor housed in said head portion connected to said first electrical rail and configured to direct electrical power to said first electrical rail when power from either of said battery or said first socket-half is lost. 
 
     
     
       10. The ATM of  claim 1  wherein said AFD communicates data with said at least one computing device through said first socket-half and said second socket-half. 
     
     
       11. The ATM of  claim 1  wherein said first socket-half and said second socket-half are configured to transmit power and data between said base portion and said head portion. 
     
     
       12. The ATM of  claim 11  wherein said base portion is configured to receive power from the grid and direct power to the head portion through said first socket-half and second socket-half. 
     
     
       13. The ATM of  claim 12  wherein said base portion defines a shelf sized to receive a bottom of said head portion, said head portion rests on said shelf when said first socket-half and said second socket-half are mated, wherein at least one post projects away from said shelf and is received in at least one slot defined in said bottom of said head portion when said head portion is placed on said shelf, and wherein said head portion is configured to be moved deeper into said shelf, towards a back wall of said shelf, while said at least one post is positioned in said at least one slot. 
     
     
       14. The ATM of  claim 13  wherein said first socket-half is mounted in said head portion and faces said back wall of said base portion and is moved deeper into said shelf, said second socket-half is mounted in said back wall, and wherein said first socket-half and said second socket-half directly mate when movement of said head portion deeper into said shelf is stopped by engagement between said at least one post and said at least one slot, precluding damage to said first socket-half and said second socket-half by preventing over-engagement between said first socket-half and said second socket-half. 
     
     
       15. The ATM of  claim 14  further comprising:
 one or more blades extending from said head portion; 
 one or more slots defined in said back wall of said base portion, each of said one or more slots configured to receive said one or more blades; and 
 one or more locks mounted in said base portion, each of said one or more locks configured to receive a key to convert from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration, and from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, wherein said one or more blades is received in said one or more slots when said head portion is moved deeper into said shelf, against said back wall, and wherein after said one or more blades is received in said one or more slots, said one or more locks can be engaged to lock said one or more blades in said one or more slots. 
 
     
     
       16. A method of operating the ATM of  claim 14  comprising:
 lowering the head portion onto the base portion; 
 positioning the head portion on the shelf of the base portion; and 
 sliding the head portion across the shelf until the first socket-half directly mates with the second socket-half. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 maintaining the first level of voltage on the first electrical rail with the battery during said lowering and said positioning and said sliding. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 placing, after said sliding, the computing device and the AFD in communication with one another through the mated first and second socket-halves and wherein communications between the computing device and the AFD occur by way of a publish/subscribe protocol. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 running, on the computing device, a terminal service for the AFD wherein the terminal service can receive data from the AFD after said placing and can also generate a message containing the received data, wherein a format of the received data is changed by the terminal service to the publish/subscribe protocol.